Composition: Rule of Odds

Jul 24, 2017
2 min read

The Rule of Odds states that framing your subject with 2 surrounding objects (thus creating an odd number of 3) suggests balance and harmony visually. We tend to prefer balance and feel comfortable with these groupings of 3. Groups of 2 or 4 can sometimes create a sense of competition where as the odd groupings tend to balance that a bit. This is a very subjective rule, but it does create balance.

Remember though that odd numbers really just refer to the number 3. Objects of 5 or more create more density than the viewer will perceive and the effect is null at that point. Larger numbers of objects, however can be divided visually into groupings of 3, thus bringing more cohesion to the composition.

The Rule of Odds simply means composing a photo that contains an odd number of the subject you are photographing (three ducks instead of one duck) or an arrangement of an odd number of items within the photograph. All the rules of composition are simply to help the photographer find ways to compose a photo that is pleasing to the eye and that the human brain can comprehend, make sense of, and find interesting. This rule does not mean you should not take a photograph of a single subject or of a set of two items or subjects in a photo. The Rule of Odds also allows you to use a triangle to compose your photograph when photographing three subjects and the human eye and brain respond to triangles in a positive way. Wikipedia says that the “rule of odds suggests that an odd number of subjects in a image is more interesting than an even number.” This "rule" is especially helpful if you find yourself photographing when there are many subjects, such as a group of birds or horses or perhaps a balloon festival or air or car race. You could use a group of five subjects also if that works out to create a good composition in the photograph. I have included several examples of groups of three's in my photographs: I routinely look for groups of three when I am photographing a scene with multiple subjects.